Dual Panel1The Lord <03068> spoke <01697> to <0413> Jeremiah <03414> about <05921> the drought <01226>.
2“The people of Judah <03063> are in mourning <056>. The people in her cities <08179> are pining away <0535>. They lie on the ground <0776> expressing their sorrow <06937>. Cries of distress <06682> come up <05927> to me from Jerusalem <03389>.
3The leading men <0117> of the cities send <07971> their servants <06810> for water <04325>. They go <0935> to <05921> the cisterns <01356>, but they do not <03808> find <04672> any water <04325> there. They return <07725> with their containers <03627> empty <07387>. Disappointed <0954> and dismayed <03637>, they bury <02645> their faces <07218> in their hands.
4They are dismayed <02865> because <05668> the ground <0127> is cracked because <03588> there has been <01961> no <03808> rain <01653> in the land <0776>. The farmers <0406>, too, are dismayed <0954> and bury <02645> their faces <07218> in their hands.
5Even <01571> the doe <0365> abandons <05800> her newborn fawn <03205> in the field <07704> because <03588> there is <01961> no <03808> grass <01877>.
6Wild donkeys <06501> stand <05975> on <05921> the hilltops <08205> and pant <07602> for breath <07307> like jackals <08577>. Their eyes <05869> are strained <03615> looking for food <06212>, because <03588> there is none <0369> to be found.”
7Then I said, “O Lord <03068>, intervene <06213> for <04616> the honor of your name <08034> even though <0518> our sins <05771> speak out <06030> against us. Indeed <03588>, we have turned away <04878> from you many times <07231>. We have sinned <02398> against you.
8You have been the object of Israel’s <03478> hopes <04723>. You have saved <03467> them when <06256> they were in trouble <06869>. Why <04100> have you become <01961> like a resident foreigner <01616> in the land <0776>? Why have you become like a traveler <0732> who only stops <05186> in to spend <03885> the night?
9Why <04100> should you be <01961> like someone <0376> who is helpless <01724>, like a champion <01368> who cannot <03201> <03808> save <03467> anyone? You <0859> are indeed with us <07130>, and we belong to you <07121> <05921> <08034> <03068>. Do not <0408> abandon <03240> us!”
10Then <03541> the Lord <03068> spoke <0559> about these <02088> people <05971>. “They truly <03651> love <0157> to go astray <05128>. They cannot <03808> keep <02820> from running <07272> away <02820> from me. So I <03068> am not <03808> pleased <07521> with them. I will now <06258> call to mind <02142> the wrongs <05771> they have done and punish <06485> them for their sins <02403>.”
11Then the Lord <03068> said to me, “Do not <0408> pray <06419> for <01157> good <02896> to come to these <02088> people <05971>!
12Even if <03588> they fast <06684>, I will not <0369> hear <08085> their cries <07440> for help. Even if <03588> they offer <05927> burnt offerings <05930> and grain offerings <04503>, I will not <0369> accept <07521> them. Instead <03588>, I <0595> will kill <03615> them through wars <02719>, famines <07458>, and plagues <01698>.”
13Then I said <0559>, “Oh <0162>, Lord <03069> God <0136>, look <02009>! The prophets <05030> are telling <0559> them that you said, ‘You will not <03808> experience <07200> war <02719> or <03808> suffer <01961> famine <07458>. I will give <05414> you lasting <0571> peace <07965> and prosperity in this <02088> land <04725>.’”
14Then the Lord <03068> said <0559> to <0413> me, “Those prophets <05030> are prophesying <05012> lies <08267> while claiming my authority <08034>! I did not <03808> send <07971> them. I did not <03808> commission <06680> them. I did not <03808> speak <01696> to them. They <01992> are prophesying <05012> to <0413> these people false <08267> visions <02377>, worthless <0457> predictions <07081>, and the delusions <08649> of their own mind <03820>.
15I <0589> did not <03808> send <07971> those prophets <05030>, though they claim to be prophesying <05012> in my name <08034>. They <01992> may be saying <0559>, ‘No <03808> war <02719> or famine <07458> will happen <01961> in this land <0776>.’ But I, the Lord <03068>, say <0559> this <02063> about them: ‘War <02719> and starvation <07458> will kill <08552> those <01992> prophets <05030>.’
16The people <05971> to whom <0834> they <01992> are prophesying <05012> will die through <06440> war <02719> and famine <07458>. Their <01992> bodies will be <01961> thrown out <07993> into the streets <02351> of Jerusalem <03389> and there will be no one <0369> to bury <06912> them <01992>. This will happen to the men and their <01992> wives <0802>, their sons <01121>, and their daughters <01323>. For I will pour out <08210> on <05921> them the destruction <07451> they deserve.”
17“Tell <0559> these people this <02088>, Jeremiah: ‘My eyes <05869> overflow <03381> with tears <01832> day <03119> and night <03915> without <0408> ceasing <01820>. For <03588> my people <05971>, my dear children <01323> <01330>, have suffered <07665> a crushing <07667> blow. They have suffered <02470> a serious <03966> wound <04347>.
18If <0518> I go out <03318> into the countryside <07704>, I see <02009> those who have been killed <02491> in battle. If <0518> I go <0935> into the city <05892>, I see <02009> those who are sick <08463> because of starvation <07458>. For <03588> both <01571> prophet <05030> and <01571> priest <03548> go <05503> about their own business <05503> in <0413> the land <0776> without <03808> having any real understanding <03045>.’”
19Then I said, “Lord, have you completely rejected <03988> <03988> the nation of Judah <03063>? Do you <05315> despise <01602> the city of Zion <06726>? Why <04069> have you struck <05221> us with such force that we are beyond <0369> recovery <04832>? We hope <06960> for peace <07965>, but nothing <0369> good <02896> has come of it. We hope for a time <06256> of relief <04832> from our troubles <01205>, but experience terror.
20Lord <03068>, we confess <03045> that we have been wicked <07562>. We confess that <03588> our ancestors <01> have done wrong <05771>. We have indeed sinned <02398> against you.
21For <04616> the honor of your name <08034>, do not <0408> treat <05006> Jerusalem with contempt <05006>. Do not <0408> treat with disdain <05034> the place where your glorious <03519> throne <03678> sits. Be mindful <02142> of your covenant <01285> with <0854> us. Do not <0408> break <06565> it!
22Do any of the worthless idols <01892> of the nations <01471> cause rain <01652> to fall? Do the skies <08064> themselves send <05414> showers <07241>? Is it not <03808> you <0859>, O Lord <03068> our God <0430>, who does this? So we put <06960> our hopes <06960> in you because <03588> you <0859> alone do <06213> all <03605> this <0428>.”